diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/misc/root/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/misc/root/default.nix
index 2ebfd4a1a87a..c98c50273f47 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/misc/root/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/misc/root/default.nix
@@ -208,6 +208,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     # fatal error: module map file '/nix/store/<hash>-Libsystem-osx-10.12.6/include/module.modulemap' not found
     # fatal error: could not build module '_Builtin_intrinsics'
     "-Druntime_cxxmodules=OFF"
+
+    # At least C++17 standard required with root7
+    "-DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17"
   ];
 
   # Workaround the xrootd runpath bug #169677 by prefixing [DY]LD_LIBRARY_PATH with ${lib.makeLibraryPath xrootd}.